Formed by songwriter/guitarist Al Barile (then a machinist at the General Electric plant in Lynn, Massachusetts and a student at Northeastern University), SSD started performing at smaller venues throughout the greater Boston metropolitan area in the summer of 1981. The band quickly gained notoriety within the local music scene for intense, charged performances and the provocative antics of their core group of followers, the Boston Crew.
The original lineup was Al Barile on guitar, Springa (David Spring) on vocals, Jaime Sciarappa on bass and Chris Foley on drums. They released their debut LP The Kids Will Have Their Say on their own X-Claim label in 1982. Ian MacKaye of Minor Threat was a friend and supporter and his Dischord label's logo appeared on the back cover.
In 1983 they added second guitarist Francois Levesque and released the EP Get It Away. It is widely regarded to be their best record. The X-Claim pressings of it and The Kids Will Have Their Say are both highly collectable.
Like many hardcore bands - particularly those in the Boston area - SSD, as they were now officially called, were heading in a heavy metal direction. In 1984 they signed to the Boston label Modern Method and released the How We Rock EP which was rooted in the hardcore sound but exhibited overt heavy metal characteristics, such as a relatively high number of lengthy guitar solos. After signing to Homestead they released the Break It Up LP in 1985. It had both feet planted in the metal genre, leaving behind all trappings of punk and hardcore.
SSD broke up in 1985.
Jaime Sciarappa went on to play bass with the Boston hardcore band Slapshot for a short time.
After the breakup Springa went on to front the short lived band Razorcaine and the comedy rock projects Die Blitzkinder (with The Slaves) and Springa as Tom Jones. His flamboyant persona and lounge lizard lifestyle during this time stood in marked contrast to the straight edge rhetoric of SS Decontrol. In the early 1990s he would move to Chicago to pursue comedy further with The Second City.
In 1991 Al Barile compiled Power for Taang! Records. It spans SSD's entire career and is the only official release in print today. In the early 1990s he took up the bass guitar and he and Levesque formed the hardcore band Gage.
Chris Foley went on to play drums for Bulkhead, Jennifer Trynin and Star Ghost Dog. Today he plays with Heavy Stud.
In the summer of 2004 Springa was seriously injured in a car accident outside of Boston. A gala benefit featuring Evan Dando and reunions of The Outlets and Jerry's Kids raised money for his medical expenses. SSD did not perform.
Springa has since experienced a full recovery and is working on a rock opera.
~from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ss_decontrol
United
SS Decontrol Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Treat you like a brother
Black and white, they're just names
United, we're the same
Destroy their fuckin system
Controls not from them
Their rules their government
We'll bleed just to dent
Death No more wars
Faith but not to follow
Working for our tomorrow
The lyrics from SS Decontrol's song "United" focus on themes of unity, rebellion against systemic control, and the rejection of divisive societal constructs. The opening lines, "No trouble with each other, Treat you like a brother," begin by emphasizing a sense of camaraderie and solidarity among people, advocating for mutual respect and brotherhood regardless of superficial differences. The reference to black and white being just names suggests a rejection of racial divisions and a call for inclusivity and equality among all individuals.
The lyrics further promote the idea of unity with the lines "United, we're the same," highlighting the strength that can be found in coming together as a unified force against oppression. The sentiment to "Destroy their fuckin system" signals a rebellious stance against oppressive structures and a call to resist and dismantle systems of control that seek to keep people divided and oppressed. The defiance against authority is evident in lines like "Controls not from them, Their rules their government," advocating for autonomy and challenging the legitimacy of established power structures.
The lyrics express a willingness to fight against injustice, with the declaration "We'll bleed just to dent," suggesting a readiness to endure hardship and sacrifice in the pursuit of freedom and empowerment. The rejection of religious and ideological constraints is evident in lines like "Religion foolish cause, Death No more wars, Faith but not to follow," advocating for critical thinking and individual agency in determining one's beliefs and values. This rejection of blind conformity extends to a rejection of violence and war, with a plea for peace and unity instead.
The lyrics conclude by emphasizing the importance of working together for a better future, with the line "Working for our tomorrow" underscoring the need for collective action and solidarity in creating positive change. Overall, the song "United" by SS Decontrol serves as a rallying cry for unity, resistance against oppressive systems, and the pursuit of a more just and equitable society built on mutual respect, autonomy, and collaboration for a better tomorrow.
Line by Line Meaning
No trouble with each other
We should live peacefully without conflict or struggle.
Treat you like a brother
We should treat each other with kindness and respect, like family.
Black and white, they're just names
We should not judge or discriminate based on race or color.
United, we're the same
When we come together, we are all equal and united.
Destroy their fuckin system
We must work together to dismantle oppressive systems.
Controls not from them
We will not be controlled by those in power.
Their rules their government
We reject the unjust rules and authorities imposed on us.
We'll bleed just to dent
We will fight against oppression, even if it means sacrifice.
Religion foolish cause
Using religion as an excuse for conflict is senseless.
Death No more wars
We must work towards peace to prevent unnecessary death.
Faith but not to follow
Belief is important, but blindly following others without question is not.
Working for our tomorrow
We must strive for a better future for ourselves and future generations.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Al Barile, Chris Foley, David Spring, Jaime Sciarappa
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind